Outrage as Borno Government allocates ₦900m for tables and chairs amidst Boko Haram insurgency

SUMMARY

• Reports claim the Borno Government House plans to spend ₦900 million on furniture, sparking public outrage.

• The controversy comes amid ongoing insurgency, displacement, and humanitarian crises in the state.

• Critics question government priorities despite investments in security, health, and infrastructure recovery.

• The administration maintains that the budget is balanced, citing a record ₦135 billion allocation for education and ₦66 billion for health to drive post-insurgency recovery.

The Borno State Government House has sparked a heated national debate after allocating approximately ₦900 million for the purchase of furniture and office fittings in its 2026 "Budget of Sustained Recovery and Growth".

The 2026 Appropriation Bill, signed into law by Acting Governor Umar Kadafur following its presentation by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, totals ₦892.44 billion. 

While the administration has been praised for prioritising education (receiving 15% of the total budget), the ₦900 million earmarked for the government house tables and chairs has come under the microscope of transparency advocates.

Watch Governor Zulum Submit the 2026 Fiscal Plan to the Borno State House of Assembly below

The controversy is particularly sensitive due to the long-running insurgency in North-East Nigeria. The state also grapples with a severe food crisis.

Borno State has been the epicentre of the Boko Haram conflict for over a decade, resulting in mass displacement, infrastructure destruction, and thousands of deaths.

According to security assessments, the region continues to face threats from insurgent groups, including Boko Haram and ISWAP, with attacks, abductions, and explosive hazards still reported in parts of the state. 

Furthermore, the state is still reeling from the catastrophic 2024 floods that affected over one million people and displaced hundreds of thousands in Maiduguri. 

That ₦900 million could significantly bolster shelter for IDPs or support the 33 states, including Borno, currently at high risk of severe flooding in 2026.

READ ALSO: Flood Alert: FG names 33 states and Abuja at high risk of severe flooding in 2026 

The reported ₦900 million furniture budget has triggered strong reactions across social media, with many Nigerians questioning government priorities.

One user, Mr P (@MERRIMENT101), criticised the development while also referencing wider concerns about national security funding, writing:

“And the so-called Senate president of Nigeria says there's no adequate funding for the military. Nigeria is indeed a zoo to these politicians; citizens are nothing but animals. 2027, we are coming.”

Another user, Bukason | Trend Analyst (@Bukason222), focused on governance priorities:

“Priorities matter. In a state still battling insecurity, spending N900m on furniture raises serious questions about judgment and accountability.”

Similarly, incaid (@kincaid_) expressed concern over timing and resource allocation:

“This is concerning. At a time when Borno is still battling insurgency, and many citizens face hardship, allocating N900 million for tables and cushion chairs raises serious questions about spending priorities. The focus should be on security, infrastructure, and improving the lives of residents first.”

The Zulum administration defends the fiscal plan, noting that 61% of the budget is dedicated to capital expenditure. 

They argue that the Government House, as the seat of power, requires adequate facilities to host the international investors and development partners necessary for the state's long-term economic stability.

The Speaker of the House, Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, emphasised that the budget underwent "scrutiny" before passage, asserting that the funds are necessary for a "sound financial framework for governance".

As reactions continue to spread, the reported ₦900 million furniture allocation has become a focal point in broader debates about governance, transparency, and priorities in a region still recovering from years of conflict.

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